Chapter 27
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Molly’s knees knocked together as she stood in front of Willy. His chest was sweaty against her back, making her skin crawl. The wind blowing in through the window wrapped around her exposed skin and puckered her flesh.
She stared at Atlas—or someone who looked like him—decked out in military gear and glaring at them over the scope of a rifle. He stood too far away from the light on the bedside table near her for her to be sure it was him.
Her brain grappled to understand what was happening and see farther into the shadows despite the awkward angle of her neck. Willy’s fingers bit into her shoulder, and a sharp blade dug against her throat. She didn’t dare flinch. One wrong movement would end her.
“Let her go.” The man’s voice cut through the fuzzy haze in her mind. It carried wrath and authority so intense she would have dropped to her knees in surrender if Willy weren’t holding her in place.
Let her go.
She blinked, staring at the man, wanting to believe with all her heart that he was Atlas. That somehow, he’d found her.
But . . . but it couldn’t be true.
Could it?
“Your men are dead. There’s nowhere to go. Step away from her and I won’t put a bullet in your fucking head.”
She prayed that he’d keep talking so she could examine his voice—a voice that made her heart sing and her chin tremble. Because right now she couldn’t trust what her heart knew.
He stepped farther into the room and air leaked through her lips.
He was soaking wet. Water dripped from his bulletproof vest. Mud caked his boots and grime littered his hair.
But it was Atlas.
There was no mistaking the chiseled shape of his jaw. He kept his gaze just above her head, locked on Willy. She stared at his eyes, needing to lose herself in the only place she felt at home.
“Get back!” Willy said, staggering a step in retreat. He bumped into the wall next to the sliding door.
With her feet bound Molly stumbled and nearly fell against the knife. Willy snapped her backward so she stood straight. Thankfully he still wanted her for protection, otherwise she’d have just sliced her own throat.
Atlas planted his feet near the foot of the bed. He was so close. Less than ten paces away. Her heart stilled, frozen in time.
There was movement at Atlas’s back. One of the guys. She couldn’t be sure who because he was still in the shadows, but given his size, she was guessing it was Viper.
“Last chance,” Atlas said. “There’s no way out for you, man.”
“Then she’ll come with me.” Willy drew her head back farther and pressed the blade against the sensitive spot beneath her ear. She cried out. A warm trickle of blood rolled down her neck.
Crack!
The sharp blast pierced her ears. Something wet splattered behind her, and Willy’s firm grip slid from her shoulder. The knife dropped at her feet, landing with a clatter.
Rapid gasps rushed from her lips. Willy lay sprawled on the ground with a bullet hole in his head. A scream caught in her throat.
Then warm, comforting arms surrounded her. Atlas’s earthy citrus smell engulfed her. So familiar and safe. She collapsed against him.
He swept one arm beneath her knees and the other behind her back, carrying her away from Willy’s dead body.
“Molly,” he murmured. “Oh god. Molly.”
“Check her out. I’ll watch the door.” Viper moved to the doorway and stood facing the hall.
Atlas lowered her to a white tufted chair in the corner of the room. He knelt on the ground and pulled a switchblade from a sheath at his ankle. He went to work on the rope at her wrists. Once he’d cut through it, he pulled the bindings away from her skin then reached for her feet.
“H-How did you find me?”
Her shoulders shook and her teeth chattered. Relief raw at the corners of her mind. She still couldn’t believe her eyes. Was this some kind of trick? Had Willy drugged her? Was she living in an alternate reality?
Atlas didn’t answer. Just worked silently. He jerked the ropes from her feet then sheathed the knife and cupped her cheeks in his hands. “Are you okay? Where are you hurt?”
She blinked.
His thumb traced her cheek and his face twisted with anger and worry. “God, they hurt you bad.”
She sniffed.
He pulled her against his chest. His warmth enveloped her body. She folded every inch of herself possible into his embrace. Gratitude exploded from her heart.
Tears stung her eyes as the words she’d been wanting to say finally left her mouth. “Thank you.”
His bristly jaw scraped her cheek as he kissed her there. “Baby, don’t thank me. I should’ve got here sooner. No, I never should’ve left you alone.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck.
“I’m sorry they hurt you. No one’s going to touch you again. I fucking promise you.” His gravelly voice thundered against her heart.
“Dude, we need to leave.”
Molly glanced up over Atlas’s shoulder to see Rogue, Havoc, and Viper standing at the doorway. Rogue’s expression was grim.
Atlas gathered her against his chest. “Hang on to me.”
She looped her arm around his neck, and he followed his team through the house. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end as they weaved around a dark corner and into the living room.
Willy had made it clear there were several men on the property. Unless Atlas and his team had killed everyone, they wouldn’t leave without trouble.
He brought her to the front entrance. The sight of the door hanging off its hinges sent a thrill racing through her. Atlas had come for her. In her heart she’d known he’d search. That he wouldn’t stop.
She just couldn’t fathom how he’d done it.
The man was nothing short of a superhero.
He stepped outside, and the cool air hit her once again. Her nipples tightened and goosebumps sprang up on her arms.
“Lead the way down,” he instructed Viper.
Atlas followed the rest of the guys, positioning his body at an angle so he wouldn’t fall as he carried her down the sharp slope. Insects buzzed around them as they moved through the foliage surrounding the property.
He made it down the hill without breaking a sweat. Still, he’d carried her far enough.
“I can walk,” she protested halfheartedly. Hopefully he wouldn’t pick up on how reluctant she was to do so. Her head still swam and her feet throbbed, but after they’d gone to so much trouble to rescue her, the least she could do was carry her own weight.
“Why would you wanna do that?” he asked absently, his gaze swiveling around.
The sound of waves reached her ears.
“Because you might need to access your gun,” she said pointedly.
“Nah, I think we took care of everyone on this fucked-up island. Besides, I’ve got three shooters ahead of me.” He grinned down at her.
She let her fingers roam from his neck into the strap of his vest. Before she could support her case further, he spoke to the guys.
“One of you swim ahead and bring the boat in.”
“Copy. I’ll go.” Rogue walked briskly ahead down the wet path.
The gentle sway of Atlas’s steps calmed her nervous system. A deep chill shook her body, but fatigue won the fight. Her eyes drifted closed.
He didn’t stumble once. Didn’t break stride. Briefly she thought about his shoulder and leg injuries, but if either was bothering him now, he showed no signs.
“We swam to shore. Our boat’s anchored a quarter mile away. We’ll have to wait around a bit until he—”
Crack, crack!
Gunfire erupted over the water. Atlas cursed and ducked off the path into the foliage. Viper joined them, and Havoc ran toward the steps leading to the beach.
“What do you see?” Atlas hissed.
Viper’s back blocked Atlas and her from the beach. He had his gun trained in front of him.
Hysteria formed a tight ball in her belly. She fought the urge to wiggle out of Atlas’s arms for fear of distracting him or bringing attention to their whereabouts.
“Shots fired from the beach,” Viper said tersely.
“No shit,” Atlas said with a scoff.
Viper grunted and spoke low—into a microphone? She couldn’t be sure, but he didn’t seem to be speaking to Atlas.
“Rogue’s in the water. There’s a yacht with a couple men. He said he got away and is swimming for our boat.”
“Ohmigod. Willy mentioned someone was coming here . . . for me, I think.” The events of the night were a muddled web stuck to the corners of her brain.
“Christ,” Atlas mumbled. His hands tightened on her side and the backs of her thighs.
“Havoc, what’s your 20?” Viper said softly, confirming they in fact had microphones.
Anxiety sat heavy on her throat. She couldn’t hear a word from Havoc, but at least there wasn’t any more gun—
Four shots rang out.
She jumped in Atlas’s arms and clapped her hands over her ears. He crouched and sat her on his lowered knee while reaching for something in a holster at his hip.
A beat later, he produced a handgun.
Footsteps ran up the wooden stairs. More shots fired. Molly squeezed her eyes tight, praying none of Atlas’s team would get hurt because of her.
Viper said something else into the mic.
Atlas splayed a hand on her back. His palm was warm and steady. “Keep your head down, Molly,” he said softly.
He didn’t need to tell her twice. She kept her face close to his chest, inhaling his scent and praying Rogue made it to the boat.
“They’re coming up the path,” Viper said. “Stay put. I’ll take them out.” He moved out of the trees, and his gun exploded with shots.
Molly cringed. She couldn’t see what was happening, but the continual firing told her Viper had to be okay.
Something whistled by her head. She stifled a shriek.
Atlas cursed and laid her on the forest floor, squishing his body over top of her. Her face was too close to his chest to read his expression. The wet ground chilled her back.
The shots stopped.
Dread thundered loudly in her ears. The silence around them was almost more sickening than the gunshots. “What’s happening?” she whispered. Fear pinched her heart. She dug her fingers into Atlas’s vest, clinging to him for dear life.
“They’re looking for us,” he muttered above her head. “Stay down and be quiet.” He shifted off her, but she grabbed at his chest, pulling him down to face her.
“Don’t leave.” The desperate cry came out wild and pleading—not because she wanted him to protect her, but because she didn’t want him to get hurt.
If something happened to Atlas—to any of them—she’d never forgive herself.
He brought his free hand to her cheek. His face was partially hidden by shadows, but the moonlight streaming through the trees showed the hard line of his brow and the determined position of his jaw.
“I need you to stay here for a few minutes. Viper disappeared chasing someone, and he might need backup. I think one of the men made it into the house. We’re going to get you back to the boat, but I need you to sit tight.”
Her sinuses burned and unshed tears filled her eyes. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his bristly cheek. “Be careful.”
He pulled away, then circled her wrist with his fingers and brought his nose inches from hers. “Stay here. Promise me.”
She nodded. “I promise.”
“Good girl.” He brushed his lips over her forehead and got to his feet. The swishing of branches was the only sign he’d even been there.
God, please protect him. Protect them all.
Atlas raced away from the grove of trees at the side of the property. According to Havoc, only a handful of men had gotten off the boat, but he didn’t want to chance anyone seeing what direction he’d come from and then searching for Molly.
He reached the dirt path snaking from the house to the beach steps. Havoc met him on the trail. Three bodies separated them.
He tucked his handgun into his waistband and lifted his rifle from where it was slung across his chest. “Did you get them all?”
Havoc shook his head sharply. “Two escaped. One ran toward the house while Viper chased another fucker around the perimeter. Where’s Molly? We can at least take her down to the dock. Rogue will be there any second.”
A muscle in Atlas’s jaw jumped. “No. We’re not leaving until we handle all of them.”
After the multiple attempts on Molly’s life and the kidnappings, he couldn’t leave any loose ends. Not even one.
“Copy that. Let’s sweep the house then.”
They turned, and as they made their way toward the dwelling, Atlas scanned the trees and bushes with every step. There was no sign of anyone. The eerie silence made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. “Viper, what’s your 20?”
“Caught our friend,” he said, sounding slightly out of breath. He’s got some intel. Coming around the house now.”
“Good.”
“Sounds like you got some much-needed cardio in,” Havoc said with a snicker.
“Eat shit.”
Atlas hid a smirk, and a minute later Viper came around the east side of the house shoving a man ahead of him
“I didn’t come here for trouble,” the guy said, his hands held up as if innocent.
“You shot at us,” Viper said dryly. He cupped the man’s shoulder then kicked the back of his leg, sending him to his knees.
“I didn’t know what the hell was going on! I’m just hired help. Fuck. Next thing you know people are shooting.”
Atlas narrowed his eyes and studied the guy’s face. Blood trickled from his temple. The corner of his mouth sported a gash and was as swollen as a plum.
“What’s your name?”
The man blinked. “Robby.”
He kept his rifle aimed at the ground not far from their prisoner’s knees. “Why are you here, Robby? You must know that, even if you’re just hired help.”
“I-I don’t know much. Honest. My boss, Vinny, said he needed to come here to pick up a package. It’s drugs, isn’t it? Dammit, I didn’t know. I don’t do drugs!”
The whine in his voice made Atlas hook an eyebrow. “How old are you, Robby?”
“Twenty-two.”
Well, shit. He wasn’t about to shoot a twenty-two-year-old kid who seemed to know fuck all about why he was here. “Your boss came here to buy a woman—my woman—who was kidnapped. Did you know about that?”
Robby’s eyes rounded. “No. Hell, no. He went inside. Ask him!”
“Does that surprise you?”
Robby lowered his gaze. “Not really. He seems like a sleazy guy, but up until now I haven’t been asked to do anything illegal. At least that I know of.”
“We need to get inside,” Havoc said, nodding toward the house.
“I’ll stay here with Robby boy,” Viper replied. “You two take care of Vinny. He’s the only straggler.”
Atlas nodded at Havoc. “Let’s go.”